Pine bark: 5 reasons for pine bark mulch

Mulching is the process of covering the soil with organic material. The goals are soil protection and soil improvement as well as the reduction of weeds. We recommend mulch made from pine bark. Discover the advantages!

Mulching

Mulching has a long tradition. It fulfills various tasks:

• In summer, the mulch protects the plants from the heat. The warmth of the soil can be maintained into the night, which promotes plant growth.
• Mulching protects against dehydration, so that less watering is sufficient.
• In winter, the mulch layer protects the plants from cold and frost.
• The mulch layer also works well in heavy rain. It reduces the leaching of the soil.
• The mulch pad creates a pleasant, slightly springy surface for walking, walking, running and playing.
• The organic material in the mulch gradually decomposes. This leads to a nutrient input.
• A valuable habitat for worms, insects and small organisms is created in the mulch layer.
• Covering the soil with organic material reduces weed growth, so mulching reduces the amount of work in the garden.

Tip: Bark mulch is particularly suitable for the hard-to-reach areas in the garden. The reduction in the development of weeds makes maintenance easier.

Bark mulch

Bark mulch is often made from the bark of native tree species such as Spruce and pine made. The raw material is obtained in forestry. Bark mulch made from the bark of the pine has also been on offer in specialist shops for a number of years. The pine (Pinus pinea) grows in the Mediterranean area and has to travel a long way to our gardens. Nevertheless, the many positive properties speak in favor of using the finely chopped bark of the pine.

5 benefits of pine bark mulch

The look

Have you ever seen pine bark? It is red-brown in color and stands out well against the brown of the earth. This contrast opens up numerous design options. If you cover tree grates and paths with pine bark mulch, you will get a beautiful structure on your property.

Tip: The red-brown mulch of the finely chopped bark of the pine opens up many design options. In addition, colored bark mulch is available in stores in green, blue and turquoise. With these variations, great effects can be achieved and differently used areas can be visibly separated.

The durability

The finely chopped and sifted bark of the pine is more durable than the bark mulch of spruce and pine. Pine bark takes three times as long to rot as the bark of native conifers. The longer service life mitigates the higher price, which is perceived as a disadvantage.

The smell

Pine bark not only looks beautiful, it smells pleasant. The scent lingers for a while after the application.

The acidity

Pine bark mulch is characterized by a lower acid content than spruce and pine bark mulch. The effect on the pH of the soil is significantly less.

Note: The lower acid content of the pine bark enables useful and ornamental plants to grow well. However, pine bark mulch does not reduce the growth of weeds as much as domestic bark mulch. Because of this, the soil must be carefully weeded before mulching.

The pollution

The rotting of the finely chopped pine bark not only takes longer than with ordinary mulch. Pine bark removes less nitrogen from the soil as it rots. In the Mediterranean regions, the cadmium contamination of the soil and thus also the cadmium content of the tree bark are lower than in Central Europe. Therefore, the less strong cadmium input when the pine bark chaff in the garden soil rots is another advantage.

Disadvantages of pine bark mulch

In addition to the positive aspects that speak clearly in favor of using pine bark mulch, the most important disadvantages should also be mentioned:

• Environmental pollution from long transport routes
• higher price than conventional bark mulch
• less influence on the weeds

Note: When buying bark mulch, pay attention to the smell. The bark of pine, pine and spruce has a pleasant smell of softwood. Moist bark molds quickly and gives off a typical mold odor. When buying, pay attention to the manufacturer's certificate, the composition and dryness of the material. Keep your supplies dry and sealed.

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